Omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters increase heart rate variability in patients with coronary disease.

Abstract

n-3 Fatty acids may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death, a property potentially related to their activity on myocardial excitability. We carried out a cross-over trial in which 10 coronary patients were treated with n-3 ethyl esters at two different dosages (3 and 6 g day (-1)) for 4 weeks. Plasma fatty acid composition, lipid profile, and heart rate variability (HRV) were analysed. n-3 Fatty acid intake significantly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and decreased the low to high frequency ratio. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between n-3 phospholipid content and HRV indices, thus confirming, in a prospective trial, retrospective data suggesting that an increased HRV may be achieved in coronary patients by exogenous provision of n-3 fatty acids.

• Authors: Barbara Villa, Laura Calabresi, Giulia Chiesa, Patrizia Risè, Claudio Galli, Cesare R Sirtori
• Journal: Pharmacological research (Pharmacol Res) Vol. 45 Issue 6 Pg. 475 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 1043-6618 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12162948 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins
• Esapent
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Lipoproteins
• Triglycerides

Topics

• Apolipoproteins (blood)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (therapeutic use)
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Humans
• Lipoproteins (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Myocardial Infarction (blood, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Triglycerides (blood)